Generic – Page 128 – Movie Retakes

Head of DC Says Studio is Exploring More Multiverse Movies

During DC Fandome, DC film boss Walter Hamada revealed that the studio is actively exploring more multiverse films, but also revealed that 1) Superman: Red Son is not among their ideas and 2) Matt Reeves’ The Batman will not connect to any other films and will serve as a standalone story. We’ve know that second point for quite a while, but Hamada explained why this is an important decision.

“Matt Reeves can continue to build out his Gotham,” Hamada said. “Those are things that we can do because we don’t have to worry about how that would impact ‘Aquaman 2’ or ‘The Flash,’ because it’s all just part of the multiverse… There’s one earth of this beginning Justice League, and there’s another Earth where there’s this growing Year Two Batman…”

He also confirmed that we can expect more DC Elseworlds movies like Todd Phillips’ Joker. It’s definitely an exciting time to be a DC comics fan!

DC is exploring more multiverse movies, but Superman: Red Son is not currently among them. #DCFanDome

— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) August 22, 2020

Walter Hamada confirms ‘THE BATMAN’ will take place on a New Earth & that Matt Reeves has innovative plans to expand that new universe. #DCFanDome pic.twitter.com/lVmHQwDLrp

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) August 22, 2020

The post Head of DC Says Studio is Exploring More Multiverse Movies appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

CS Interview: Co-Writer/Director Aaron B. Koontz on The Pale Door

CS Interview: Co-writer/director Aaron B. Koontz on The Pale Door

ComingSoon.net got the opportunity to chat with co-writer and director Aaron B. Koontz (Scare Package) to discuss his ensemble indie western horror pic The Pale Door, which is now available in select theaters and on digital platforms! Click here to rent or purchase The Pale Door!

Looking back at the conception of the story for the film, Koontz explained that it spawned from his desire to “make a really violent, kind of dark and broody Western,” given his love for the genre, and that after first trying seven or eight years ago with one that he jokes “was really bad,” the pieces began to fall into place for the current project after being approached by Universal Pictures.

“I sent it to Noah [Segan], and Noah and I were working on other stuff and it just wasn’t where I wanted it to be,” Koontz recalled. “Then, after my first feature, I was asked by Universal to pitch on a witch movie, after the success of [Robert] Eggers’ film. So I was like, okay, I’ll come up with an idea. I was like, wait a second, this could be a way to fix this Western, and because there were pieces of the Western I really liked, but the second half kind of fell apart, but I really liked kind of the character building and some of the stuff that was there. So we just kind of put these two ideas together and decided to make this witch Western. Once that happened, it just kind of all clicked. When we pitched that to Universal, they wanted nothing to do with it. They just wanted a normal witch movie. So they’re like, ‘Nope, that’s not there’ [laughs]. So I had this concept that I thought was really cool, I never fully developed it, and then I actually was on a panel, a screenwriting panel with Joe and Keith Lansdale, we happened to both be Texas-based filmmakers and writers. So we were talking about writing screenplays and we kind of hit it off, and during that panel, I told the story about pitching to Universal. And Joe literally turns to me and says, ‘That’s a damn good idea. You should do that.’ The next thing you know, we’re out to dinner and then, they’re helping us develop it. And then we wrote The Pale Door.”

Though bringing these two different concepts may seem like a challenge of balancing the two tones to some, Koontz expressed that he “didn’t find it that difficult” as the way he and co-writers Cameron Burns and Keith Lansdale approached the characters and their journey lent these “these natural sensibilities” to the story.

“These men are kind of like, in hiding, and they kind of have their own rules that they kind of live by, and then, they’re brought out of their element, and that’s what I like to do,” Koontz explained. “I like the fish out of water stories, the people that are out of their comfort zones and having to do that. So once you’ve established and grounded those characters, it then was about them reacting to the horror. Then, once they’re there and you’ve kind of established who kind of fits what motif within the gang, then the horror can just accentuate these sensibilities that exist with them, you know? So if somebody’s more violent or somebody’s more reasoning or somebody’s more logical, then they’re the people that are dealing with the horror in those ways.

“So Dodd, for example, Bill Sage’s character, we establish as a bit of a savage and some of the stuff, what’s he doing, but we wanted to hint that there’s more with all the characters we wrote, there’s more than the surface and there’s more about what they’re trying to say and do,” Koontz continued. “But then, once kind of the shit hits the fan, to sort of say, he’s one of the ones that’s like, ‘All right, I’m going to go out there and go out on my own terms, then. I’m going to go take them with me.’ Then Wylie’s more logical and like, ‘Let’s talk about this, let’s think about this.’ Lester’s more, you know, ‘I just want to protect the kid. Let’s just get out of here, I don’t want to have anything to do with this.’ If you establish those personalities earlier, then it allows you to react to the horror in a different way. So it kind of fell together relatively nicely. I will say that Joe and Keith, Keith in particular, really, really helped with getting those voices to those characters in really unique ways so that we could accentuate it appropriately.”

Aside from the production of the film itself, which Koontz described was “complete hell” as they went against hail, lightning, flooding and category five tornadoes, the co-writer/director found his biggest challenge in bringing the film to life was finding a way to highlight the “brother-centric story that had a lot of heart at its core” while still tapping into the “absurdity” of the story.

“At the time, I’d done a lot of research on like, the Salem Witch Trials and there’s a lot of things I was fascinated about, that whole background,” Koontz noted. “And then, you know, loving Westerns as I had, they’re all criminals, all their friends are dying all the time. It’s kind of crazy, when you think about what that world was like, and when I started to merge these together, I tried to find a throughline and that was tough. It was tough to massage that because I wanted there to be an opportunity to parallel—I didn’t want this to be a black and white thing, where like, cowboys good, witches bad. I wanted to talk about their backgrounds, how people become the people that they are, and the opportunities for us to change as individuals, and the opportunities for us to say that hate and violence is—hate’s a learned thing and violence begets more violence. If there’s a way to explore that and parallel, maybe Maria, the witch’s background to the cowboys’ background and the gangs’ background, that it humanizes them in unique ways so that the ending, there is something there that might feel hopefully a little more poignant. And just to have that sentimental ending within this bigger thing was a really hard thing to manage for an absurd portion. Although the crazy things that happened before that, to try and have that land was definitely hard to balance.”

The cast for the film is composed of an ensemble roster of indie horror talent and when it came to building his crew, Koontz joked with his casting director, David Guglielmo, that he wanted his cast to be the “Avengers of indie genre actors,” which included a few of his longtime friends and frequent collaborators along with talent he’s been longing to work with.

“I’ve known Pat for a long time, I was a producer on Starry Eyes, that’s where I first met Pat and Noah, so I knew I wanted them in something,” Koontz explained. “We Are What We Are was one of my favorite films, I thought Bill Sage was just—he’s so good in everything he does. Even Zachary Knighton, I loved his performance in The Hitcher remake, I loved Happy Endings, as a complete aside. I just thought he was an actor that I knew had opportunities to do something more unique and kind of go there in different ways. So it was fun to kind of challenge him with that and he just knocked it out of the park. You know, Devin Druid, Devin Druid was the one that was the kind of—we had the catalyst for everything. We had to find our perfect Jake, and we searched forever to find Jake. Someone told me to watch—there’s a bunch of really good young kids on 13 Reasons Why, and this was for another film, not even for this one. We were looking at it for another project, and I watched it and I circled him immediately. I was like, whoa, this kid is good, like, this kid’s really good. We had some amazing people that kind of read for us, but Devin Druid blew me away. And then, I saw him and Zachary Knighton looked alike, and I wanted Zach in this. So then we kind of paired them off as brothers and sort of kind of piecemeal from there. But even Stan Shaw, Stan’s such a veteran. He’s been around for so long. That guy has more movie stories than anybody I’ve ever met in my entire life.

“It was just so amazing kind of piecing the gang in that unique way,” Koontz continued “Tina Parker from Better Call Saul, I mean, it’s just, again and again, once you get a few dominoes, they all start to kind of fall into place. And we were just giddy. I was like, ‘Whoa, it looks like we’re getting another one, another one.’ I’m unbelievably proud of what that became, and then the other core piece was Melora Walters, who was like, my first choice, was who I wanted for Maria from the get-go. I’m a diehard Paul Thomas Anderson fan, and Magnolia is actually the reason why I went to film school, like quite literally the reason. So bringing her in and have her be the Madame of these witches was like, everything to me. And that kind of became the glue that kind of countered off the rest of these characters. But I’m so proud of the cast. I thought David did an amazing job and I am really, really lucky to get the people that I did.”

Though he had his wishlist and hopes for building his cast, Koontz stated he mostly didn’t write the characters with any specific person in mind for each role, instead loosely basing them on the real life Dalton Gang while “creating these unique voices,” but also noting there was one person he did have in mind for a particular role.

“I knew that Noah was going to play Truman, I will say that, I did know that Noah was going to play Truman,” Koontz revealed. “I love his dad jokes, that he’s kind of done, now that he’s a father and where he’s moved in his life, I want him to play a little goofier character, maybe a little closer to the Kid Blue in Looper. So we had a little fun with that, because I needed that character to kind of counterbalance like the solemness of Chief, played by James Whitecloud, and Duncan and all of them, just to find the right ways to balance those people, I thought to be a lot of fun.

“We wanted everybody to have kind of a different style and dialect,” he added. “I mean, Pat Healy in particular created an entire dialect for his character. He’s a meticulous character in Wylie, so he dresses meticulously, he talks meticulously, he walks differently. He’s just got like, a different kind of aura to him than say, you know, Sam Shaw’s character in Lester, you know, or Dodd, in how they balance. So once we kind of had ideas, and I loved that all these different gang members existed from the Dalton Gang, and it was a brother gang in Oklahoma in the same time period. And once we kind of had that, it was like, well, how do you make them unique? So then we were just trying to kind of find unique aspects.”

One thing in particular that he spent a lot of time curating was the “very specific film grain” he and director of photography Andrew Scott Baird placed on to film after their original plan to shoot on film fell through, which resulted in giving it a specific texture that he felt helped capture the tone and period of the piece.

“We looked a lot at probably The Assassination of Jesse James, was probably the one that we referenced the most, like the train robbery in that is perfect and it was a night train robbery,” Koontz excitedly described. “I was like, ‘Oh my god, like what did Roger Deakins do? Because whatever Roger Deakins did, let’s learn from that the best that we can.’ I will say I loved the 3:10 to Yuma remake I thought from James Mangold was also one that just, the way that they captured the action, the way that the kinetic nature of the camera, of the close-ups I thought were really great, and so we referenced theirs. To kind of mix that where once the film goes to night, it stays night, you know, basically other than one kind of flashback sequence. We were lucky to be in this contained town in Guthrie, Oklahoma. We had one massive moon light that we kind of used to really kind of accent this, and I thought Andrew just did a wonderful job, you know, within the team like, lighting this, especially on an indie like this on the scope that we had to pull that off. There’s certain places in the film where you have to move fast, and you’re just like, ‘Look, let’s just kind of get this scene.’ But then there’s so many others where like, ‘Let’s take the time to really kind of showcase the cinematography. Let’s really kind of showcase.’ I mean, even the lighting and the church, where it’s like upside down and stuff, we have the lights going up and angling differently and all of this stuff, there are so many little things, little touches that we put in there that I was really proud of what we were able to pull off.”

The Dalton gang finds shelter in a seemingly uninhabited ghost town after a train robbery goes south. Seeking help for their wounded leader, they are surprised to stumble upon a welcoming brothel in the town’s square. But the beautiful women who greet them are actually a coven of witches with very sinister plans for the unsuspecting outlaws-and the battle between good and evil is just beginning.

The horror western pic features an ensemble cast that includes Devin Druid (13 Reasons Why, Greyhound), Zachary Knighton (Happy Endings, Magnum P.I.), Melora Walters (Big Love, Venom), Bill Sage (Power, Hap and Leonard), Noah Segan (Knives Out, Scare Package), Pat Healy (The Innkeepers, Bad Education), Stan Shaw (The Monster Squad, Jeepers Creepers 3), Natasha Bassett (Hail, Caesar!) and Tina Parker (To The Stars, Better Call Saul).

The film is co-written by Koontz, Burns, and Keith Lansdale and directed by Koontz. The Pale Door is now in select theaters and on digital platforms and VOD!

The post CS Interview: Co-Writer/Director Aaron B. Koontz on The Pale Door appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

CS Interview: Writer/Star Mike White on The One and Only Ivan

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CS Interview: Writer/star Mike White on The One and Only Ivan

ComingSoon.net got the opportunity to chat with Mike White (School of Rock, Beatriz at Dinner) to discuss his work on Disney’s live-action/CGI adaptation of The One and Only Ivan, in which he both stars and penned the screenplay!

When the Katherine Applegate children’s novel first hit shelves in 2012, White recalls that he wasn’t really “looking to do an adaptation of a kids’ book” but after picking it up and giving it a read he found he was “kind of gut-punched” and that it was “really powerful for a kids’ book.”

“It’s melancholic and it’s poetic, there was just something about the tone of Ivan’s voice and the tone of the book and the message of the book, which was very, in a way, heavy, which was talking about animal rights in a way that was like, you’re really feeling it,” White described. “So I felt like it’s cool that Disney wanted to take that on and has such a big platform and has such an interesting relationship with animal movies. And this feels like a kind of continuation of that in a way that’s raising the consciousness, in a sense, just like the character of Bryan Cranston’s where it’s like he started off in a world where zoos and circuses weren’t a bad thing, and suddenly now he’s having to grapple with the ethics of it. And I think that that part of it got me excited to write.”

Though the novel doesn’t set a specific time period for its tale, the Ivan upon which it’s inspired by did live around the ’70s and ’80s and when it came to choosing to set the film in the past, White credits part of that to director Thea Sharrock as “creatively I think it was fun for her to do that” and to “get that flavor in it.”

“But I think it just spoke to that in the ’70s and ’80s, circuses were not politically incorrect,” White explained. “Certain things, you know—our consciousness as a society has changed a little bit. So it’s like, in a way, we’ve already gotten to that point, where we know that animals in a small little cage, like just for our entertainment isn’t necessarily something that is kosher anymore. So I think that that helps tell the story as reflective of our overall culture.”

When it came to bringing some of the novel’s visual language to life on screen, White praises Sharrock for her work and the visual effects department while joking it was easy from the writer’s position to translate the source material’s imagery to script.

“All you have to do is put a slug line in it or say, ‘Ivan crawls across the thing and jumps on,’” White chuckled. “You know, actually rendering that and making that real takes so much effort, like the kind of effort that at one point early on it was like, ‘Should I throw my hat in the ring to direct this?’ And then, three years later, as I’m watching Thea like, have to grapple with every little movement, and I was like, ‘Thank God I didn’t throw my hat in the ring on this. This is just too, too painstaking and exacting for me.’ So yeah, as a writer, it’s not that difficult, to be honest. You can just let your imagination run wild and then they are the ones who have to—the director and the CGI team have to like, actually make it happen and clean up your mess.”

In addition to penning the script for the film, White stars in the film as the frantic seal Frankie, as well as a cameo appearance as a driver passing by the mall, which isn’t the first time he’s starred in a film he’s written after co-starring in Orange County, School of Rock and The Good Girl, amongst others.

“It’s funny because I think people think I probably am bugging these directors to put me in the movie, but I think it’s the opposite,” White expressed. “I think they’re tired of me just standing around on set like wringing my hands and they’re like, ‘Why don’t you go do something? Like why don’t you participate? Put on a different hat.’ So Thea just thought, I don’t know, the neurotic, obsessive seal, she’s like, ‘We’ve got one right here.’ Me [laughs]. But it is fun for me. It is fun to like, be able to participate in the movie in some different way. When I first started out, I’d write a script and then they would take the script and then they’d say, go back to the cave and keep writing. And you feel like there’s a party happening and you designed it and you don’t get to actually participate in that. So it’s kind of fun to be able to have that aspect of the experience.”

White is one of a large ensemble with everyone from Angelina Jolie (Maleficent) to Helen Mirren (Hobbs & Shaw) and Danny DeVito (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) and when it came to building the cast, White does note that most of the casting came from Sharrock and Disney but that he threw “in my two cents” and had a lot of fun working with the rest of the voice cast.

“I was there for a lot of the recording sessions, and it was just crazy to have Angelina and Sam and Danny DeVito and Helen Mirren and it was very—I mean, I’ve obviously worked with stars over the years, but it’s a lot in one room for a few hours, like, this is fun,” White brightly recalled. “The voicing was just fun and that was easy to be honest. The biggest challenge as far as adapting it was trying to make sure we’re staying true to the spirit of the book and the people who loved the book are going to love the movie. But you know, we had to build it out a little bit and give it more plot. And the things that are required to make a movie feel like a big event type of movie. So you know, the book really delivers as far as emotion and character, but just having a plot and feeling like it had movement, that was the biggest challenge.”

Though now available to stream on Disney+, the film was originally planned for a theatrical release and while White concedes that “the writing was kind of on the wall” that it may shift to a digital release much like other titles from the past few months, he stepped back to “adjust your expectations” and find the positive in the release.

“We obviously made this movie to be seen on a big screen and we wanted that, but we also want people to see the movie and I wasn’t really wanting Disney to sit on it forever until things get clarified,” White explained. “So my feeling is a lot of people are going to see this movie on Disney+. It’s a big movie visually, and so, you want that to come across. But it’s also a very intimate movie, too. So I think it actually will work as a movie that you see at home. So you know, it’s a mixed feeling, but it’s not about the disappointment of that particularly, it’s more just about this overall sense of like, what is the movie business now? You know, it begs bigger questions than just The One and Only Ivan.”

Purchase the original novel here!

An adaptation of the award-winning book about one very special gorilla, Disney’s The One and Only Ivan is an unforgettable tale about the beauty of friendship, the power of visualization and the significance of the place one calls home. Ivan is a 400-pound silverback gorilla who shares a communal habitat in a suburban shopping mall with Stella the elephant, Bob the dog, and various other animals. He has few memories of the jungle where he was captured, but when a baby elephant named Ruby arrives, it touches something deep within him. Ruby is recently separated from her family in the wild, which causes him to question his life, where he comes from, and where he ultimately wants to be.

The heartwarming adventure, which comes to the screen in an impressive hybrid of live-action and CGI, is based on Katherine Applegate’s bestselling book, which won numerous awards upon its publication in 2013, including the Newbery Medal.

The film features a star-studded voice led by Oscar winners Sam Rockwell (Jojo Rabbit) as Ivan, Angelina Jolie (Maleficent) as Stella and Helen Mirren (The Queen) as the voice of Snickers the poodle along with Danny DeVito (Hercules) as the voice of Bob the dog, Brooklynn Prince (The Florida Project) as the voice of Ruby, Grammy winner Chaka Khan as the voice of Henrietta the chicken, Mike White (School of Rock) as the voice of Frankie the seal; Ron Funches (Trolls World Tour) as the voice of Murphy the rabbit and Phillipa Soo (Hamilton) as the voice of Thelma the parrot.

It will also star Emmy winner Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) as Mack, the mall’s owner. Ramon Rodriquez (Iron Fist) as the mall employee George, and Ariana Greenblatt (Monster Problems) as George’s daughter Julia.

Based on the true story, The One and Only Ivan is being directed by Thea Sharrock (Me Before You) from the screenplay written by two-time Independent Spirit Award winner Mike White (Pitch Perfect 3, The School of Rock). Oscar and three-time Golden Globe winner Angelina Jolie (First They Killed My Father, Maleficent) is producing along with the late Allison Shearmur (Solo: A Star Wars Story, Cinderella) and Brigham Taylor (Christopher Robin, The Jungle Book).

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Official DC FanDome Store Launching Tomorrow Through September

The official DC FanDome store is launching tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. PST/1:00 p.m. EST at shop.dcfandome.com and will run through September 13 at midnight. With something for every DC fan, the store will offer an array of must-have products inspired by DC Super Heroes and Super-Villains, including DC FanDome exclusives, limited-edition merch, original artwork, and comic cover art to create customizable collections, new Warner Bros. film art, and more.

Highlights include the best of Wonder Woman 1984 lifestyle products, a LEGO shop, EleVen by Venus Williams x Wonder Woman exclusives, and DRAWN: Black DC Super Heroes with Ken Lashley and Denys Cowan art. Superhero fans won’t want to miss this opportunity to own merch from around the world to create or expand their personal DC collection. (Quantities are limited and may sell out fast — some are only for sale for the first 24 hours).

EXCLUSIVES & HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

-LEGO Supergirl Minifigure Sweepstakes: Supergirl is here to save the day! Check out dccomics.com/dcfandomesweeps this Saturday, August 22, and enter for a chance to win one of these exclusive DC FanDome LEGO Supergirl minifigures. Click here for rules: https://bit.ly/2YjnULP #DCFanDome #LEGO #Supergirl

-LEGO Wonder Woman vs. Cheetah set based on the action-packed scene in Warner Bros. and DC’s upcoming movie Wonder Woman 1984, where Wonder Woman first confronts her nemesis Cheetah, will be available for pre-sale on August 22. The set can be positioned in an action pose with Cheetah leaping out of a cloud, while Wonder Woman’s friend from the previous film, Etta Candy, looks on in the background.

-DC FanDome Global Virtual Run: Celebrate DC FanDome with the first-ever global DC Super Hero virtual run. Walk, run, or fly on your own time and earn a Finisher’s Certificate that includes a #BatmanDay bonus riddle hidden within! Sign-up for FREE at www.dcfandome.com.

-Design by Humans, Customizable Products: For the first time ever original art from The Batman, The Suicide Squad, and Black Adam will be available for purchase. Fans can select their favorite pieces of art, then customize them on a wide range of apparel, phone cases, pop sockets, and tote bags (prices range). Print on demand offerings also include DRAWN: Black DC Super Heroes with Ken Lashley (featuring a quartet of iconic black DC Super Heroes) and Denys Cowan’s signature Black DC Super Hero Juneteenth artwork.

-Her Universe x Wonder Woman 1984: Winners of the Her Universe Fashion Show and design contest, Adria Renee and Sarah Hambly, will reveal their award-winning Wonder Woman 1984 inspired pop culture fashion collections available Sept. 15 at Hot Topic and HerUniverse.com. Items will be available for presale at the DC FanDome store.

-EleVen by Venus Williams x Wonder Woman: DC FanDome exclusive pieces will be available from EleVen by Venus Williams x Wonder Woman Collection offering premium athletic staples that bring out the best in fierce women who are confident, compassionate, and ready for anything life has to bring. The Wonder Woman inspired grind catsuit and peak windbreaker will release exclusively through the Official DC FanDome Store on August 22.

-Reebok x Wonder Woman 1984 collection blends iconic ‘80s silhouettes with the DC Super Heroes and Super-Villains. Inspired by the neon glow of Wonder Woman 1984, the retro ‘80s styles feature elements representative of the decade including iridescent materials, double denim, and fierce animal print. The first shoe of the collection being unveiled, the Classic Leather (Gold), is a nod to Wonder Woman’s glistening armor. This Classic Leather features a gold leather upper, translucent rubber outsole and shimmering laces. The Reebok x Wonder Woman 1984 Classic Leather (Gold) will be available to purchase for $100 USD in unisex sizes for 24 hours on August 22 on Reebok.com and Amazon.com. The complete Reebok x Wonder Woman 1984 collection will be revealed and available to purchase in unisex, women’s, and kid’s sizes beginning September 17, 2020, on Reebok.com and Amazon.com.

(Art by Ken Lashley)

The post Official DC FanDome Store Launching Tomorrow Through September appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

I Wish I Made That: Mars Attacks & Critters

Welcome to this month’s edition of ComingSoon.net’s I Wish I Made That, in which filmmakers Ted Geoghegan (We Are Still Here, Mohawk) and Victoria Negri (Gold Star) each pick a film they wish they had actually made! This discussion focuses on alien comedy sci-fi classics Mars Attacks (1996) and Critters (1986). Check out their conversation below!

Victoria Negri is an actress, producer, writer, and director known for The Walk (2020) and The Fever and the Fret (2018). Gold Star, her 2017 debut feature as director, served as the final onscreen performance by noted actor Robert Vaughn. You can purchase Gold Star by clicking here!

Negri just announced that her horror-themed short film The Walk will be screening as part of June’s virtual edition of New Jersey’s Lighthouse International Film Festival!

Ted Geoghegan studied screenwriting under the tutelage of the late Carroll O’Connor. After writing numerous genre features in Europe and The United States, he made his directorial debut with the 2015 horror film We Are Still Here, then followed it up with the Native American revenge movie Mohawk (2017). Click here to purchase We Are Still Here, and click here to purchase Mohawk!

Geoghegan recently began a well-received podcast titled “This is Not a Story About…” Each episode of the program begins as the story of someone or something in the world of film that cinephiles know very well, but transforms into an expertly-researched tale about a new topic: one that can be closely-related or worlds away from where its story began. You can listen to the podcast by clicking here!

I WISH I MADE THAT #4: ALIEN ATTACK AUGUST

Ted Geoghegan: Hey Victoria! I can’t believe we’re already on the fourth edition of “I Wish I Made That” – even though it feels like we’ve been doing this for eight hundred years. 2020 certainly is an interesting time paradox, isn’t it?

Victoria Negri: Time is weird right now. I had a call with a friend this afternoon and we were both like, when did we last speak? March? June? What’s going on? But yes, edition #4!

Geoghegan: And to celebrate this weird time, we decided to go down a sci-fi rabbit hole… but instead of classy, mind-bending stuff, we went for silly space creatures coming to Earth!

Negri: Yeah, we could’ve gone down the intense literal “Alien” kind of film, but I’m still in this mindset of needing fun. Though, these films kept honestly veering me towards really relevant subjects that my brain was like, whoa okay. Right. These have a lot going on in addition to camp. Mine was “Mars Attacks!” and you picked “Critters”. Another film you picked that I had never seen before!

Geoghegan: Two perfectly fun PG-13 movies with silly villains, but both ending up juuuuuust a touch disturbing, as well.

Negri: Hahaha. Yeah, some cringey things in there. Over the top violence, weird kinda vaguely sexist stuff it’s all in there. What made you pick “Critters” for this edition?

Geoghegan: Critters was a movie that I grew up on. I saw the second one in the theater and would regularly binge all four of them at the video store growing up. They were silly fun, but the first one always held a special place in my heart.

Negri: When was the last time you saw it before just now?

Geoghegan: Probably about five or six years ago, I think?

Negri: Cool. Yeah was wondering how much time passed and whether or not it was one of those revisiting and watching for the first time since you were a kid films or not.

Geoghegan: It was born out of the post-Gremlins boom that also gave us Ghoulies. Studios were obsessed with the idea of getting out movies featuring little monsters, so there was a glut of them for a while.

Negri: Yeah, I was thinking that must’ve been it. Definite Gremlins vibes from the critters as characters.

Geoghegan: But Critters always stuck out as a quality entry. It’s got great sets, a fun cast, a cute premise, and I love the Krites!

Negri: Yeah are both adorable and horrifying. I love how they roll around like little dust balls and then pop out and their teeth are insane. Those big mouths, it’s really fun

Geoghegan: And the fact that they actually have a language and fly little spaceships?! Oh, it kills me!

Negri: Yeah, it’s so weird and creative. I also love how there are different layers to your pick, how it’s both a monster movie and an alien film. We have the bounty hunter characters (Terrence Mann as one!) who are aliens impersonating humans searching for the Krites.

Geoghegan: I think, ultimately, the reason I selected it is because it makes me happy – which is a recurring theme here. I wish I’d made Critters, but I’d LOVE to make a new one and just add to the canon!

Negri: Yeah, what would you do if you were to make a new one? I haven’t seen the subsequent ones, obviously, but what would you want to explore?

Geoghegan: Truth be told, the sequels have almost explored too much about them. If I made one, I’d go back to the series roots. They’re little monsters who kill people, and they have to be killed first. They’re not even that hard to kill, but when you’re alone on a farm, they space porcupines have the upper hand!

Negri: Ah so bring them back in the middle of nowhere and have them duke it out? That sounds fun right now. Would you keep the look the same with them? I also want to say I really liked the special effects. The transformation from the bounty hunters into their human characters was a really cool scene. So, wondering how you would handle special effects with it and the Krites too. Reminded me of that Indiana Jones melting-face moment

Geoghegan: The Krites are perfect. I would never change a thing about them. And they’ve remained the same in all the sequels! The bounty hunters are a regular presence in several of the films, but I’d downplay them. Hell, I’d probably kill them off in the first act. I want to see people without laser guns have to fight those little bastards. But, speaking of laser guns, I gotta ask… Mars Attacks?!

Negri: Mars Attacks is one that I grew up loving. I remember seeing the trailer for it and flipping out, counting the days until it came out in theaters.

Geoghegan: I love Mars Attacks. It’s such a dark, strange film. It always feels sociopathic to laugh at it.

Negri: Again, I love the aliens. They are so weird. They wear tiny little red speedos and glitter capes and they speak like ducks. And their faces are horrifying but something kind of endearing, too. And yes, I watched last night and had moments that I was laughing at where I was like, what’s wrong with me?

Geoghegan: Did you collect the Topps trading cards that the film was based upon? I had them – and the accompanying Dinosaur Attacks cards – until my mom found them and threw them out. She was horrified by how violent they were.

Negri: I didn’t have them, but I was reading about them! How were they violent as compared to the movie?

Geoghegan: Waaaaaaay more violent. They’re gorefests!!!

Negri: Amazing. Now I’m laughing like a sociopath. I was so freaked out watching the movie last night, too, because I was like, oh no. This is so relevant to right now politically. When Nicholson at the start of the film playing the President is standing in the oval office and keeps making decisions to try and keep himself in the best light, I was like – this is us right now. So the film was good escapism but then I kept being brought to how weirdly current it is.

Geoghegan: 100%. Let’s just say that our current Commander in Chief is both Mars Attacks’ President James Dale and scumbag Art Land… (Both Nicholson’s characters)

Negri: Yeah, his Vegas character is definitely just another side of our President.

Geoghegan: Too real.

Negri: Agreed on that. Also, a huge laugh happens for me when the aliens are saying “We are your friends” and annihilating people. I’m like, oh no. There’s something wrong with me.

Geoghegan: And what a cast for that insanity! Besides Nicholson, we got Glenn Close, Annette Benning, Pierce Brosnan, Danny De Vito, Michael J. Fox, Pam Grier… The list goes on forever!!!

Negri: I know! And I forgot about Jack Black too! As I was watching and writing down notes of things that stood out. I literally just wrote down, “And Jack Black!” It’s like an Avengers film cast but with weird aliens

Geoghegan: And did you notice Jack Black’s girlfriend? It was Christina Applegate!

Negri: Ah! Yes! Crazy. It’s an all-star alien fest.

Geoghegan: So, what makes you want to make Marks Attacks?! Tim Burton’s shoes are a pretty big pair to fill!

Negri: I could never fill Tim Burton’s shoes. I think I would just love to make something that is that bold, but fun. It really tows the line between camp, satire, violence, humor, all of it. Like we were saying, we’re laughing at these horrifying things. But I also think the film has a lot thematically going on. I think it’s super smart. Thinking about xenophobia in this country, blind patriotism, etc. It masks all of that through this strange alien film. It would be so fun and a massive challenge to explore things like that beneath the guise of those weird little Martians.

Geoghegan: The film is quite epic. We’ve talked about this in past columns, namely our fantasy-themed one. The idea of tackling something so momentous is exciting and horrifying.

Negri: Yes! And I love that we’ve done enough editions of this now to find connections and
trends threading between them… So, how would you deal with fan expectations if you made another Critters? Is that something to consider? What do you think the mass would want to see?

Geoghegan: Well, Critters did get a sequel/reboot last year, but it wasn’t that well-received.
It had a great director, but it felt like it was missing… something. I’d like to figure out what that something was and put it back into the series.

Negri: Hmm. Yeah, I’ll have to check it out to see. That’s unfortunate.

Geoghegan: The third film is the film debut of Leonardo DiCaprio. I’d want him to come back.

Negri: Whoa! All these celebs starting out in alien films. Yeah, that’d be incredible. Would you want him to reprise his role as an adult or have him play someone else?

Geoghegan: Oh, since we’re dreaming, he’d absolutely be playing the same person – utterly wrecked by seeing all these people get decimated by Krites as a small child.

Negri: I’d love to see him do that. He really is funny and things like Wolf of Wall Street make me think as an adult he should push the physical comedy/being over the top more. Him and Krites?! Yes! I’d want him to have an epic death, though. It feels like he should die in it.

Geoghegan: Truthfully, I’d love to retell the film as the original was told. A sleepy family in Middle America, thrust into this wild tiny version of an alien invasion. It’s so charming.

Negri: Yeah, I want to see the Ted reboot! But you’d still do less bounty hunters? And would it be current times or a period piece?

Geoghegan: I think it could absolutely be set in the present, even though I think everything’s too complex these days. I find such solace in Norman Rockwell’s version of America and throwing little monsters in there to shake it up would be a joy.

Negri: Agreed, simpler times. The focus would be how their community is disrupted by this one horrible (but cute for audiences) thing

Geoghegan: With less bounty hunters, and more kids on bikes, grumpy parents, and horny boyfriends.

Negri: Hahaha! Kids on bikes! What I appreciated about it, too, was how much it gave nods to other films. That moment felt like such an homage to ET with Brad on the bike. Even the sound of the bike, there was something nostalgic about that for me, both for childhood and a movie lover of films with kids on bikes tackling alien kind of things in films.

Geoghegan: Kids are also at the heart of Mars Attacks… ultimately saving the day when every adult – and the US Military – cannot. Would your version of the film retain that?

Negri: Yes! Exactly! I would love to. I think that’s what I love about it. Every adult is worried about themselves in the film, their own motivations, but the kids are more in tune with what’s actually going on. Their instincts aren’t corrupted by society yet. The younger characters see the world as it is in these films. It’s really a beautiful thing to think about, beyond the violence in the films and such. How can we retain that?

Geoghegan: Hell of a good question.

Negri: Charlie is an interesting character in Critters, because he bridges the gap between the kids and adults. What do you make of his character? Would you have someone like him in your version?

Geoghegan: Absolutely. He’s such a charmer and does all he can to be on everyone’s side. He’s also the star of the second, third, and fourth films, and does far more to fend off the Krites. I love him.

Negri: Yeah, it’s delicate and I think on paper it’s one of those situations where I’d be like, ah, will this work? But he’s great in bridging that gap. And I love how he’s an ally to Brad and vice versa, even before the Krites make their presence known. They establish him really well in the first act of the film too.

Geoghegan: I feel as though they tackle his character very well in the first film. He’s clearly mentally impaired, but those around him love him and treat him with respect, even if they don’t always believe him. Don Opper, who plays Charlie, also wrote the film!

Negri: Oh! Well then on paper it works because he knew it would!

Geoghegan: I think it was a role he’d always intended on playing.

Negri: Maybe because it was so delicate. That’s so interesting that he wrote himself that part. I’d have run from it screaming.

Geoghegan: He gets to have SO much fun in the sequels – especially the second one.

Negri: I really need to watch the other films!

Geoghegan: If you had fun with the original, you’ll get a laugh out of the others.

Negri: He’s also kind of a psychic, too. He predicts them coming and it’s that kind of instincts too that the kids have. Unspoiled by the world.

Geoghegan: Do you feel like we were ripped off by not getting a Mars Attacks sequel?

Negri: Yeah, I really wanted one. I was reading about what happened and the movie actually was considered to not do well. The budget was $80 million and it only grossed about $100 million so that wasn’t considered a huge success. But it’s so great and I want to see more from these aliens. I think for a sequel, it would be cool (and boom up goes the budget) to have it set on Mars. Maybe it’s current times and the aliens are still there and we’re trying to colonize there because we need resources here. A reverse of what the first film is. And then trying to keep the cast huge somehow so we can get all those fun names in there. Or more in the future so there’s a colony on Mars.

Geoghegan: Bringing it to Mars would be SO fun! Earth Attacks!!! Mars Attacked!!!

Negri: Yeah! Yes! I love how you’re like, I want to keep it America and unspoiled by the current world and I’m like I WANT TO GO TO MARS haha I’m loving this more and more. The sequel titles are so fun for this. I can’t decide it Earth Attacks or Mars Attacked is better.

Geoghegan: Thanks. You can have either for free. Hah!

Negri: Haha! And we can see what their weird little society is like! I want to see more of how they dress, their lives, little baby aliens. More red speedos, please.

Geoghegan: All the speedos! I’m definitely seeing why you want to make Mars Attacks!

Negri: Yeah and just get it out of earth completely. That’d make it even more escapism but could still manage to have some deeper themes in there. And so much fun. And maybe they’ve evolved past the yodeling killing them.

Geoghegan: What music would it be this time?!

Negri: Ooooooo. Hm. Wow that’s so tough. The yodeling was so random and funny because it’s good for what it is but most people aren’t like – oh, yodeling is great! My brain immediately was like – trap music, for some reason. But now I’m thinking like 90s techno. Like really 90s clubbing music. That’d be hilarious.

Geoghegan: Perfect.

Negri: Aggressive remixes. On Mars. This needs to happen.

Geoghegan: So, it seems like this edition of “I Wish I Made That” is kind of more like, “I Wish I Could Make A Sequel To That”!

Negri: Totally!! Or a reboot in your instance! I really want to see both of our versions of these films. This has made me so happy to imagine.

Geoghegan: Me too! It’s pretty endearing to imagine a world where we’d have the opportunity to bring our voices to stories that we love so much.

Negri: Yeah, it’s fun to think so freely about what we would do with zero limitations. So many things came up in the moment today chatting with you, especially the music for my sequel – haha! Fun surprises! And I am excited to watch the other Critters films waiting for me

Geoghegan: Also, given everything happening in the world today, it’s fun to think about escapism. Now more than ever – yet another overarching concept in this column.

Negri: Yeah, we’ve been definitely picking films that allow for that. Bringing us to different planets, fantasy worlds and more. It’s great to revisit these kinds of films and discover new ones.
Other than my Vampire’s Kiss pick, which was a dark one that I had a lot to say about in a different context, of course. Excited for our next one!

Geoghegan: As am I! Until next time, please stay healthy!

Negri: You too!

Geoghegan: I’m headed to Mars. Seems safer.

Negri: Me too – haha!

Click here to purchase Mars Attacks!

Click here to purchase Critters!

The post I Wish I Made That: Mars Attacks & Critters appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

Justice League Snyder Cut Teaser Shows New Cyborg Footage

Justice League Snyder Cut teaser shows new Cyborg footage

As the weekend event is about to kick off with the promise of a full trailer for the notorious cut, Zack Snyder has taken to Twitter to share a brief teaser of Justice League featuring new footage of Ray Fisher’s Cyborg. The teaser can be viewed below!

Teaser Premiere 8/22 2:30pm (PDT) #DCFanDome pic.twitter.com/3RfF6LXhr3

— Zack Snyder (@ZackSnyder) August 21, 2020

Zack Snyder’s Justice League will reportedly cost around $20-30 million in order to properly finish the editing and visual effects of the director’s original vision. The original post-production crew is also expected to return along with the cast members to record additional dialogue for the cut.

Fueled by the hero’s restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Justice League sees Bruce Wayne enlist the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes—Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash—it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.

Justice League, which features a screenplay from Chris Terrio from a story by Snyder and Terrio, stars Affleck as Batman, Cavill as Superman, Gadot as Wonder Woman, Momoa as Aquaman, Miller as The Flash, Fisher as Cyborg, Willem Dafoe as Nuidis Vulko, Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor, Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Connie Nielsen as Queen Hippolyta, with J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon, and Amy Adams as Lois Lane.

Released in November 2017, the film earned mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike, praising the action and performances from Gadot and Miller while criticizing every other aspect of the film, namely the inconsistent tone that many fault Joss Whedon (The Avengers) for after taking over directorial duties from Snyder. With a large budget of $300 million and a break-even point of $750 million, the film is considered a box office bomb having grossed only $658 million.

The post Justice League Snyder Cut Teaser Shows New Cyborg Footage appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

Clark Kent Takes on Lobo in New Superman: Man of Tomorrow Clip

A new clip from Superman: Man of Tomorrow has made its way on the web. The upcoming animated movie will focus on the early days of Clark Kent as the Man of Steel as he encounters his first intergalactic enemies. In the latest video, Superman is going at it with Lobo, an alien mercenary/bounty hunter. And it looks like Clark’s not quite ready for someone with Lobo’s power or savagery.

You can watch the new Superman: Man of Tomorrow clip in the player below (via SuperHeroHype) and pre-order the movie by clicking here!

The official synopsis for the movie directed by Chris Palmer and written by Tim Sheridan reads:

“Daily Planet intern Clark Kent takes learning-on-the-job to new extremes when Lobo and Parasite set their sights on Metropolis.”

The Superman: Man of Tomorrow cast features Darren Criss as the voice of Clark Kent/Superman. Alexandra Daddario co-stars as Lois Lane, with Zachary Quinto as Lex Luthor. Brett Dalton (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) and Ryan Hurst (The Walking Dead) will voice Lobo and Parasite, respectively. The cast also includes Ike Amadi as Martian Manhunter, Neil Flynn as Jonathan Kent, and Bellamy Young as Martha Kent.

Superman: Man of Tomorrow arrives on digital on Aug. 23, before the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack hits the stores on Sept. 8.

What do you think about the new Superman: Man of Tomorrow clip? Let us know in the comments section below.

Recommended Reading: Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?

The post Clark Kent Takes on Lobo in New Superman: Man of Tomorrow Clip appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

CS Interview: Noah Segan on Western Horror The Pale Door

CS Interview: Noah Segan on western horror The Pale Door

Just in time for the film hitting select theaters, digital platforms, and VOD, ComingSoon.net got the opportunity to chat with star Noah Segan (Knives Out, Scare Package) to discuss his role in the western horror pic The Pale Door! Click here to rent or purchase The Pale Door!

Segan has worked with co-writer Cameron Burns and co-writer/director Aaron B. Koontz multiple times over the years and when it came to joining on for this project, the 36-year-old star credits a lot of his interest to their “great friendship” and their love for “a lot of the same stuff,” namely westerns and “great genre horror,” of which The Pale Door “kind of fits in the box and then tries as hard as it can to break out of it.”

“That in and of itself, kind of when he was conceptualizing it, was just really exciting to be a part of,” Segan warmly expressed. “And then, of course, being able to bring in friends, like Zach Knighton and have a script that was written by Keith Lansdale, one of my favorite authors, it kind of kept getting better and better up until the point that we made the movie and hopefully delivered it to you.”

Segan’s character of Truman was written by Koontz specifically for the frequent Rian Johnson collaborator, even being somewhat inspired by his turn as Kid Blue in Johnson’s Looper, and Segan reveals he knew “a little bit” that the character he was in talks for was written specifically for him and that he felt “very lucky” to have the opportunity to get that insight as the script was being polished before the casting search began.

“He did sort of drop this idea, ‘Hey, listen, what about this guy and what do you think? What little idiosyncrasies would you want to do?’” Segan explained. “So I did get a little bit—I got a little extra before we actually started going. But you know, you get into an ensemble situation, you’re just like, ‘Hey man, I played the oboe, let me play the oboe,’ you know, and get it in sync with the rest of the orchestra.

When it came to actually stepping into the role and finding a way to separate the goofier nature of Blue from the more serious-yet-still goofy Truman, Segan points out that “the difference between Kid Blue and Truman is that Kid Blue wishes he was like Truman.”

“Kid Blue is playing cowboy, whereas Truman really is a bandit,” Segan noted. “He may be the goofy member of this team, but this team is a legit vicious group of bandits, you know? I think that, I hope that even though there’s some comic relief and there’s some sort of fun, light times, I really hope that in a lot of ways as much as we’re trying to hit the great gags and gore and action on the horror side, we’re also hitting the sort of traditional Bud Bedicker all the way to the kind of Wild Bunch, Long Riders sort of serious 70’s Western stuff. It’s a real grittiness, you know, that can kind of speak to the legitimacy, I want to say, of the genre.”

Much like with the horror anthology Scare Package, in which Segan made his directorial debut and worked alongside Burns and Koontz, the cast for The Pale Door features an ensemble akin to an “indie horror Avengers” and in looking at the rest of the cast he described it as “a dream come true” while also “keeping me on my toes.”

“I mean, guys like Bill Sage show up and Stan Shaw, Stan Shaw comes in, he showed up a little bit after some of us, and it’s like having a celebrity, but it’s beyond that,” Segan described. “It’s like having royalty sort of come and bless you, and the same thing with Melora Waters. You know, Aaron has a Magnolia themed tattoo. I mean, so you have your Zach’s and your Bill’s, but you also have Melora and you have Stan who are, like I said, it’s like there’s a regalness that comes with that, that just is mind-blowing.”

With The Pale Door hitting theaters and digital platforms mere months after the debut of Scare Package, the speed at which Koontz is delivering the new project is rather impressive and Segan calls the director one of the most efficient he’s ever seen.

“Scare Package took a little bit longer because he was basically putting together whatever it was, seven little movies altogether,” Segan explained. “A lot of different schedules and moving parts. Pale Door, it’s been like a blip through a colt revolver, man. He shot it out and he’s been editing it. And I think it just got done in a way that allowed it to come out now. Also, I think there’s definitely a sentiment there, ‘Why wait? Give people some entertainment right now.’ You know, give people as much as you can so that they have something to enjoy.”

The film is co-written by Koontz, Burns, and Keith Lansdale and directed by Koontz. The Pale Door is now in select theaters and on digital platforms and VOD!

The post CS Interview: Noah Segan on Western Horror The Pale Door appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

Play Our DC FanDome Bingo Cards This Saturday!

Play our DC FanDome bingo cards this Saturday!

This weekend is marking the exciting arrival of the first-ever DC FanDome, which is chock-full of exciting film and TV panels for the comic book world! To prepare, ComingSoon.net has drawn up some bingo cards with our picks of what we expect to see announced this weekend, as well as some thoughts that would turn some heads! Be sure to check out our DC FanDome bingo cards below and play along with us this weekend!

(Click each image to enlarge!)

Listed down below is the complete film panel which will include Warner Bros.’ upcoming high-profile films such as Wonder Woman 1984, The Suicide Squad, Black Adam, The Batman, and more as well as animated films like Superman: Man of Tomorrow.

Wonder Woman 1984 – Panel

Saturday, Aug 22 – 10:00 AM (Encores at 6PM, 2AM)
Hall of Heroes

Wonder Woman 1984 stars Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, and Pedro Pascal, and director/co-writer/producer Patty Jenkins join forces with Brazilian hosts Érico Borgo and Aline Diniz to celebrate the fans in a big way. They will answer questions from fans from all over the world, talk fan art and cosplay, and reveal an all-new sneak peek at the upcoming film — plus a few more surprises! (25 min)

Multiverse 101 – Panel

Saturday, Aug 22 – 11:15 AM (Encores at 7:15PM, 3:15AM)
Hall of Heroes

Get schooled in this engaging refresher course on the creation of the Multiverse with DC Chief Creative Officer/Publisher Jim Lee, Warner Bros. Pictures President of DC-Based Film Production Walter Hamada, and Berlanti Productions founder/DCTV mega-producer Greg Berlanti. (30 min)

Introducing Flash – Panel

Saturday, Aug 22 – 11:45 AM (Encores at 7:45PM, 3:45AM)
Hall of Heroes

This 101-style conversation with The Flash filmmakers Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti, star Ezra Miller and screenwriter Christina Hodson will give fans a speedy rundown on the first-ever Flash feature film. (10 min)

The Suicide Squad – Panel

Saturday, Aug 22 – 12:00 PM (Encores at 8PM, 4AM)
Hall of Heroes

What else would you expect from The Suicide Squad but the ultimate elimination game? First up, writer/director James Gunn takes on fan questions, then brings out Task Force X for a fast-paced, no-holds-barred Squad Showdown that tests every team member’s Squad knowledge — and survival skills! (30 min)

The Joker: Put on a Happy Face

1:45PM (Encores at 9:30PM, 5:45AM)
Hall of Heroes

Featuring interviews with filmmakers and industry legends, discover the origins and evolution of The Joker, and learn why the Clown Prince of Crime is universally hailed as the greatest comic book Super-Villain of all time. (5 min)

Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons – Screening

Saturday, Aug 22 – 2:00 PM
WatchVerse – Monarch

(Animated)

The Snyder Cut of Justice League – Panel

Saturday, Aug 22 – 2:45 PM (Encores at 10:45pm, 6:45AM, 8:15AM)
Hall of Heroes

Zack Snyder fields questions from fans and a few surprise guests as he discusses his eagerly awaited upcoming cut of the 2017 feature film and the movement that made it happen. (25 min)

Black Adam – Panel

Saturday, Aug 22 – 3:00 PM
Hall of Heroes

Star of the first-ever Black Adam feature film Dwayne Johnson sets the stage for the story and tone of the new movie with a fans-first Q&A…and a few surprises. (15 min)

Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons – Panel

Saturday, Aug 22 – 3:30 PM
WatchVerse – Monarch
(Animated)

Go behind the mask and into the deep legacy of one of DC’s most revered anti-heroes in with voice talent Sasha Alexander (Rizzoli & Isles), Chris Jai Alex (Extraction) and Griffin Puatu (Beastars) along with director Sung Jin Ahn (Niko and the Sword of Light).

TBA Panel
4:00PM (Encores at 11:45PM. 7:45AM)
Hall of Heroes

Aquaman – Panel

Saturday, Aug 22 – 4:00 PM (Encores at 12AM, 8AM)
Hall of Heroes

Aquaman director James Wan and King Orm himself, Patrick Wilson, take a deep dive into the world of Atlantis that Wan created, revealing their favorite behind-the-scenes moments from the largest DC movie ever! (10 min)

Wonder Woman 80th Celebration

4:15PM (Encores at 12:15AM, 8:15AM)
Hall of Heroes

As an Amazon and a god, Wonder Woman is truly timeless. So, it’s hard to believe she’s turning 80! Join Wonder Woman 1984 director Patty Jenkins and star Gal Gadot, along with a very special guest, as they reflect on the character’s influence on them personally, and look forward to the 2021 celebrations! (5 min)

Superman: Man of Tomorrow – World Premiere

Saturday, Aug 22 – 4:15 PM (Encore at 12AM)
WatchVerse – Kandor
(Animated)

Per the official description: Be among the first fans to witness the world premiere screening of Superman: Man of Tomorrow, the latest entry in the popular series of DC Universe Movies. It’s the dawn of a new age of heroes, and Metropolis has just met its first. But as Daily Planet intern Clark Kent — working alongside reporter Lois Lane — secretly wields his alien powers of flight, super-strength and X-ray vision in the battle for good, there’s even greater trouble on the horizon. Follow the budding hero as he engages in bloody battles with intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo and fights for his life to halt the attack of power-hungry alien Parasite. The world will learn about Superman — but first, he must save the world! Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award winner Darren Criss (Glee) and Emmy nominee Zachary Quinto (Star Trek, Heroes) lead a star-studded cast as the voices of Superman/Clark Kent and Lex Luthor, respectively. The cast also includes Alexandra Daddario (San Andreas) as Lois Lane, Brett Dalton (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) as Parasite/Rudy Jones, Ryan Hurst (Sons of Anarchy, The Walking Dead) as Lobo, and Iké Amadi (Mass Effect 3) as Martian Manhunter. (90 min)

SHAZAM! – Panel

Saturday, Aug 22 – 4:30 PM (Encores at 12:30AM, 8:30AM encore)
Hall of Heroes

Zac Levi and the cast can’t tell you s#&t! Sworn to secrecy on the new script for their upcoming movie, Zac and a few of his SHAZAM! castmates talk with the Philippines’ #1 DC fan, Gino Quillamor, about what the next movie might be about, while commenting on everything from panels to the other Zack’s cut — and even have a few surprise guests drop in! (10 min)

The Batman – Panel

Saturday, Aug 22 – 5:30 PM (Encores at 1:30AM, 9:30AM)
Hall of Heroes

The Batman filmmaker Matt Reeves joins host and self-professed fangirl Aisha Tyler for a discussion of the upcoming film…with a surprise (or two) for the fans! (30 min)

Superman: Man of Tomorrow – Panel

Saturday, Aug 22 – 5:45 PM (Encore at 1:30AM)
WatchVerse – Kandor
(Animated)

A look at the upcoming “Superman” animated film pitting the Man of Steel against Lobo and Parasite. The panel features voice talent Darren Criss (Glee), Brett Dalton (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Ryan Hurst (Sons of Anarchy, The Walking Dead) and Iké Amadi(Mass Effect 3) alongside supervising producer Butch Lukic (Constantine: City of Demons), director Chris Palmer (Voltron: Legendary Defender) and screenwriter Tim Sheridan (The Death of Superman). (50 min)

Listed down below is the complete TV panel which will include CW’s Arrrowverse shows such as The Flash, Supergirl, Superman & Lois, and Legends of Tomorrow as well as streaming shows like Stargirl, Titans, Doom Patrol, and Netflix’s Lucifer:

The Flash – Panel

Saturday, Aug 22 – 10:00 AM (Encore at 1AM)
WatchVerse – Monarch

Executive producer Eric Wallace joins cast members Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Valdes, Danielle Nicolet, Kayla Compton and Brandon McKnight to discuss all things Flash with Entertainment Weekly’s Chancellor Agard. Team Flash will break down both parts of season six and look ahead at what is to come with an exclusive trailer for season seven. Fans will also get a look at the exclusive black-and-white noir episode “Kiss Kiss Breach Breach,” which will be available on The Flash season six Blu-ray and DVD on August 25. (40 min)

Teen Titans Go! Cast Table Read and Panel

10:00AM (Encores at 4:30AM, 6:15AM)
KidsVerse

We know you have your favorite Teen Titans Go! moments (who doesn’t?), and you’ve probably watched those clips over and over and over again (sorry parents!). But what if the Teen Titans Go! voice actors performed those favorite moments for you live?!? Don’t miss a special cast table read of some of your favorite moments from the series with executive producer Peter Michail and voice cast members Tara Strong, Khary Payton, Greg Cipes and Scott Menville. (20 min)

How Supergirl Celebrates Strong Women

Saturday, Aug 22 – 10:00 AM
InsiderVerse – Stage 16

Take a heartfelt and powerful DC InsiderVerse trip with the stars and producers of Supergirl as they celebrate the show’s title character and her embodiment of female power! 5 min On Demand

Black Lightning – Panel

Saturday, Aug 22 – 10:45 AM
WatchVerse – Monarch

Join Black Lightning stars Cress Williams, China Anne McClain, Nafessa Williams, Christine Adams, Marvin “Krondon” Jones III, Jordan Calloway and James Remar with actor/filmmaker Robert Townsend moderating as they pay homage to the ’90s. Whether it was hit television shows like Living Single and Family Matters, films such as Boomerang, House Party and Blade, the Chicago Bulls domination of the NBA, or rap artists breaking ground — the ’90s were lit! 35 min

Pennyworth – Panel

Saturday, Aug 22 – 11:30 AM
WatchVerse – Monarch

Join series stars Jack Bannon, Ben Aldridge, Paloma Faith, Emma Paetz, and executive producers Bruno Heller and Danny Cannon as they talk about this unique origin story of the famed butler behind Batman, Alfred Pennyworth. Join in for a fond look back at the show’s exciting first season and the inspiration behind its stunning and edgy 1960s London setting, plus a few unexpected secrets about the new season ahead! (20 min)

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow – Panel

Saturday, Aug 22 – 12:00 PM
WatchVerse – Monarch

Unicorns, encores and aliens…oh my! The Legends have encountered a mess of creatures, villains and time periods over the course of the show, and you, the fans, have been on this wild ride right along with them. Join the cast and producers of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow for a Q&A and, of course, lots of laughs! Be sure to tune in to get the inside scoop on favorite moments from past seasons and what they have in store for season six. Series stars Caity Lotz, Nick Zano, Matt Ryan, Tala Ashe, Jes Macallan, Olivia Swann, Amy Louise Pemberton and Shayan Sobhian join executive producers Phil Klemmer, Keto Shimizu and Grainne Godfree for a panel moderated by Entertainment Weekly’s Chancellor Agard. (35 min)

Doom Patrol – Panel

Saturday, Aug 22 – 1:15 PM
WatchVerse – Monarch

From DC FanDome to FanDOOM! Join the “world’s strangest heroes” — the Doom Patrol — for a deep-dive discussion into the beloved and bizarre series. Panel will feature executive producers Jeremy Carver and Chris Dingess, co-executive producer Tamara Becher-Wilkinson, and series stars Matt Bomer, Diane Guerrero, April Bowlby, Joivan Wade, Timothy Dalton, Karen Obilom, Abigail Shapiro, Riley Shanahan and Matthew Zuk. (35 min)

Static Shock – Episode Screening

Saturday, Aug 22 – 1:15 PM
WatchVerse – McDuffie’s Dakota/Blerd & Boujee House
(Animated)

Are you charged yet? If not, now is your chance to watch an entire episode of fan-favorite animated series Static Shock, co-created by the late Milestone Comics co-founder Dwayne McDuffie, for whom the McDuffie’s Dakota theatre is named.

Superman & Lois – Panel

Saturday, Aug 22 – 2:35 PM
WatchVerse – Kandor

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman & Lois! Join DC Chief Creative Officer/Publisher Jim Lee in a conversation with executive producer/showrunner Todd Helbing and series stars Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch as they discuss the history of Superman from the comics to the screen, what fans can expect from the upcoming series, and the significance of the characters in the world of today. Fans will be encouraged to follow along as Jim Lee shows the panelists how to draw the iconic Superman emblem and then share their own versions. (30 min)

Immortal Vigilante: Hooded Justice – Screening

Saturday, Aug 22 – 2:45 PM
WatchVerse – McDuffie’s Dakota/Blerd & Boujee House

Originally released on the Watchmen: An HBO Limited Series Blu-ray, this documentary examines the heart-wrenching origin story of the first costumed adventurer in the Watchmen universe, the Black Super Hero known as Hooded Justice. Presumed missing for years, he lives on as an example for Sister Night, and others. Created for television by Damon Lindelof, Watchmen was nominated for 26 Emmy® Awards, including Outstanding Limited Series, the most of any television production this year.

Watchmen Unmasked

Saturday, Aug 22 – 3:00 PM
WatchVerse – McDuffie’s Dakota/Blerd & Boujee House

Who watches the Watchmen? In this documentary focused on the critically acclaimed limited series Watchmen, the notion of what a Super Hero is, and the actions of human beings, are up for review. Damon Lindelof’s dystopian view of an alternate world proved more relevant and uncannily prescient by providing a scenario where cultural diversity, race, and the un-civil past of the United States was brought into the light.

“Ask Harley Quinn”

4:15PM (Encores at 12:15AM, 8:15AM)
Hall of Heroes

She has gone toe-to-toe with Batman and the Justice League, and taken down The Joker and the toughest villains of Gotham City, but at DC FanDome, Harley Quinn faces her toughest challenge yet — answering burning questions from DC’s biggest fans in her own tell it as it is, no-BS style. If you love the Harley Quinn animated series, this is one you cannot f—king miss! (10 min)

Lucifer – Panel

Saturday, Aug 22 – 5:00 PM
WatchVerse – Monarch

Lucifer is back from Hell, and the series is bringing a never-before-seen blooper reel from season four along with an exclusive clip of “Another One Bites the Dust” from the upcoming musical episode. Director Sherwin Shilati and Lucifer executive producers/showrunners Joe Henderson and Ildy Modrovich discuss what it took to put together such a massive musical episode — and how they have been able to keep it under wraps for so long. Hell yeah! (20 min)

Titans – Panel

Saturday, Aug 22 – 5:30 PM
WatchVerse – Monarch

“Titans are back, b*tches!” That phrase kicked off an explosive second season of Titans that culminated with the long-awaited emergence of Nightwing as their leader and the tragic death of one of their own. And as a new mysterious threat looms, season three promises to be the biggest yet! Join executive producer Greg Walker and series stars Brenton Thwaites, Anna Diop, Teagan Croft, Ryan Potter, Conor Leslie, Curran Walters, Joshua Orpin, Damaris Lewis, with Alan Ritchson and Minka Kelly for a preview of the new season as well as a discussion on the “Top Titans Moments” of the first two seasons. (30 min)

Young Justice – Cast Audio Play Performance and Panel

Saturday, Aug 22 – 6:00 PM
WatchVerse – Monarch

Calling all Young Justice fans! Can’t wait for season four? Well, we couldn’t wait either, so DC FanDome has something special guaranteed to leave you feeling more than just “whelmed.” Join executive producers Greg Weisman and Brandon Vietti plus voice cast members Jason Spisak, Khary Payton, Stephanie Lemelin, Nolan North, Denise Boutte, Danica McKellar and Crispin Freeman for a special audio play performance of a brand-new Young Justice episode. After the table read, stick around for a Q&A session previewing the new season. It’s gonna be crash!

DC’s Stargirl – Panel

Saturday, Aug 22 – 6:45 PM
WatchVerse – Athena

DC’s Stargirl creator/executive producer Geoff Johns joins cast members Brec Bassinger, Amy Smart, Yvette Monreal, Anjelika Washington and Cameron Gellman for a panel full of fun and inside scoop. Join the new Justice Society of America as they dive into that epic showdown and learn a little more about each other through some special lenses. (35 min)

Batwoman – Panel

Saturday, Aug 22 – 7:30 PM
WatchVerse – Athena

Gotham’s newest hero is suited up and ready — and she’s here! Join executive producers Caroline Dries and Sarah Schechter plus cast members Rachel Skarsten, Meagan Tandy, Camrus Johnson and Nicole Kang for the exclusive first discussion with the highly anticipated new Batwoman Javicia Leslie as she prepares to step into the iconic role. The cast will break down season one and give a sneak peek at season two, featuring new arrival Ryan Wilder, aka Batwoman. (40 min)

Legion of Super Heroes – Panel

Saturday, Aug 22 – 7:45 PM
WatchVerse – Monarch

Legion of Super Heroes: The Complete Series has arrived on Blu-rayTM courtesy of the Warner Archive Collection, and the stars and showrunners are assembling to reminisce about the popular 2006-2008 TV series from Warner Bros. Animation. One thousand years from now, the legendary Man of Steel inspires a group of emerging young heroes from the 31st century to band together and defend the newly formed United Planets. That is, if they don’t kill each other first! Join an entertaining panel featuring actors Yuri Lowenthal (Batman Unlimited), Kari Wahlgren (DC Super Hero Girls), Shawn Harrison (Family Matters), Adam Wylie (Picket Fences) and Andy Milder (Batman: The Brave and the Bold) alongside producer James Tucker (Justice League Dark: Apokolips War) and director Brandon Vietti (Young Justice). Legion of Super Heroes: The Complete Series on Blu-rayTM is now available via Warner Archive Collection at your favorite online retailer.

Harley Quinn

8:15PM (Encores at 12AM, 6:45AM)
WatchVerse – Athena

Drop the kiddies off at the DC KidsVerse and head over to the Harley Quinn panel. The hilarious voice cast of Kaley Cuoco, Lake Bell, Ron Funches, Matt Oberg and Alan Tudyk will join executive producers Justin Halpern, Patrick Schumacker, Dean Lorey and supervising producer Jennifer Coyle to break down the most f@#king outrageous moments of the show. #Harlivy Forever! (20 min)

*Other Panels

Tomorrow’s Super Heroes with Jim Lee brought to you by Gold House

4:15PM (Encore at 12:15AM)
Hall of Heroes

DC Chief Creative Officer/Publisher Jim Lee and Warner Bros. Pictures President of DC-Based Film Production Walter Hamada join Bing Chen, founder of the global non-profit collective Gold House, to discuss the important contributions of Asian artists and writers in comics and comic book–inspired entertainment. (15 min)

BAWSE Females of Color Within the DC Universe

12:45PM (Encores at 8:45PM, 4:45AM)
Hall of Heroes

What’s a BAWSE? Find out here as some of the hottest actresses across DC television and film sit down with celebrity DJ D-Nice and Grammy-winning singer/actress Estelle to discuss how they use their confidence and vulnerability to navigate their careers in Hollywood. Panelists include Meagan Good (SHAZAM!), Javicia Leslie (Batwoman), Candice Patton (The Flash), Tala Ashe (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow), Nafessa Williams and Chantal Thuy (Black Lightning), and Anna Diop and Damaris Lewis (Titans). Catch the entire full-length conversation at McDuffie’s Dakota in the DC WatchVerse. (20 min)

CNN Heroes: Real-Life Heroes in the Age of Coronavirus

3:30PM (Encores at 11:30PM, 7:30AM)
Hall of Heroes

While DC features iconic fictional Super Heroes recognized around the world, CNN Heroes shines a light on real-life, everyday people making a difference in their communities. Now, as the global Covid-19 pandemic has turned all of our worlds upside down, CNN’s Anderson Cooper introduces you to the frontline workers, advocates, neighbors, and friendly strangers who are coming together to help us through this crisis. (60 min)

Creating Heroes: The Life and Art of Jim Lee – Screening

7:00PM
WatchVerse – Kandor

Featured on the animated film Justice League: War, this documentary explores the work of master artist Jim Lee, from his early days to his current position as DC’s Chief Creative Officer and Publisher. Jim’s story is truly one of inspiration as fans get to witness that our passion for DC Super Heroes is a global phenomenon. Intrinsically, we are all connected on a deep level to our modern mythology of Super Heroes. Jim shows us first-hand that perseverance and a dedication to our goals can make the dream come true, despite upbringing or where one originates in the world. (40 min)

The post Play Our DC FanDome Bingo Cards This Saturday! appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

Early Tenet Reviews Are Here, See What Critics Have to Say!

BEGIN SLIDESHOW

Early Tenet Reviews Are Here, See What Critics Have to Say!

The first reviews for Christopher Nolan’s highly-anticipated movie Tenet are trickling in, with some commending the film’s originality and for being “grandly entertaining” as others claim that the film is “almost impossible to love.” You can check out some of the reviews and reactions below!

‘Tenet’ Review: Christopher Nolan’s Grandly Entertaining, Time-Slipping Spectacle Is a Futuristic Throwback https://t.co/q6cLARQimT

— Variety (@Variety) August 21, 2020

From @THR‘s #Tenet review: “Altogether, it makes for a chilly, cerebral film — easy to admire, especially since it’s so rich in audacity and originality, but almost impossible to love, lacking as it is in a certain humanity.” https://t.co/5eic2C0Vcr

— Aaron Couch (@AaronCouch) August 21, 2020

I tried to write my TENET review as a palindrome, but got as far as “Good, it’s good” before realising I’d already failed. Big, beefy, convoluted spectacle, wider than it is deep, suit porn levels off the charts: I had fun. https://t.co/rnNpic1eGY

— Guy Lodge (@GuyLodge) August 21, 2020

Tenet is a thrilling addition to the Christopher Nolan canon, but is slightly held back by a sense of over-familiarity.

Our review: https://t.co/HcVBYqQsb5 pic.twitter.com/tCBTLM80vO

— IGN (@IGN) August 21, 2020

Christopher Nolan’s stunning time-travel thriller #Tenet hits UK cinemas next week – read the NME review: https://t.co/stLqSwLOpW

— NME (@NME) August 21, 2020

TENET: The spinning top of INCEPTION and the endless void of INTERSTELLAR have nothing on the grand intrigue that is #TENET, Christopher Nolan’s most challenging film — and also his most satisfying. pic.twitter.com/F3qVc1qMBF

— Peter Howell (@peterhowellfilm) August 21, 2020

#Tenet Review: Christopher Nolan’s Long-Anticipated Time Caper Is a Humorless Disappointment https://t.co/wE01VPA5Gk pic.twitter.com/1w3QX1gOhT

— IndieWire (@IndieWire) August 21, 2020

“It has its cake, eats it, then goes back in time and eats it again.” Read the official Empire review of Christopher Nolan’s #Tenet. https://t.co/ulLb1BQF1h pic.twitter.com/2Yp1XIxuwu

— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) August 21, 2020

Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” review: There is enjoyably puzzling fun to be had along the way, but this sci-fi James Bond homage may have you pleading for an aspirin and a long lie-down https://t.co/nz2WjqNjGw

— TheWrap (@TheWrap) August 21, 2020

Tenet review: Christopher Nolan’s thriller is a palindromic dud https://t.co/O40xYfmiw7

— Guardian culture (@guardianculture) August 21, 2020

TENET is Christopher Nolan’s weirdest & most confusing film yet. What I mean to say is that I really dug it, it made me feel like a tiny baby floating in an endless universe https://t.co/dKfN4iFNd9

— Clarisse Loughrey (@clarisselou) August 21, 2020

There comes a time where you watch a film that just nails every part of the characterisation, story, casting & soundtrack. And you’re in utter awe even though you shouldn’t be, because Christopher Nolan has never disappointed.

TENET is an insane cinematic experience. pic.twitter.com/PYKfLNmJQE

— Laila (@lailatweetzx) August 21, 2020

#TENET

I loved it. It’s very timely. It has big ideas, although it is perhaps guilty of being a bit abstract in places.

Elizabeth DeBicki is fantastic. It does things that I’ve never seen on-screen before. It’s stunning.

I can’t wait to see it again.https://t.co/4gZP2DMwtc

— Darren Mooney (@Darren_Mooney) August 21, 2020

#Tenet review: Christopher Nolan’s galaxy-brain epic is a natural successor to Inception – for better and for worse https://t.co/O71ZA9Il1Y

— Little White Lies (@LWLies) August 21, 2020

The highly-anticipated mystery project will first open in 70 countries including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Russia, Spain and the U.K. on August 26, with some territories still yet to receive a release date, while select US cities will see the film open on September 3 ahead of the Labor Day weekend.

Tenet will be an international espionage thriller filmed across seven countries. John David Washington (BlacKkKlansman) stars, with a supporting cast that includes Robert Pattinson (Good Time), Elizabeth Debicki (Widows), Dimple Kapadia (Fugly), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Avengers: Age of Ultron), Michael Caine (The Dark Knight Rises) and Kenneth Branagh (Dunkirk).

The director first made an impact in 2001 with his indie film Memento. His next film, Insomnia, was also a modest hit. but it wasn’t until Batman Begins hit theaters in 2005 that Nolan became a box office force in his own right. The Prestige was Nolan’s last movie to gross under $200 million worldwide. His other films include The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Inception, Interstellar, and Dunkirk.

Looking to binge-watch some movies? Check out Amazon’s Director’s Collection of Christopher Nolan films here!

Tenet is written by Nolan and will utilize a mixture of IMAX and 70mm film, which is something he’s become famous for. Nolan is the film producer along with his partner Emma Thomas.